At a glance

Your chance to

At a glance

13 nights comfortable hotels with en suite rooms Hotels are full of character and most have swimming pools

10 days cycling with 100% vehicle support

80% tarmac, 20% unpaved track

Routes mainly follow quiet roads and can be potholed

Cycle stretches of the Pacific coastline and see the highlights of Costa Rica

Take in the variety of Costa Rica by bike, pedalling past rainforest, volcanoes and stunning sections of coastline. From San Jose we cycle south with vast Pacific views to the right and dense forest to the left. Crossing the 3400m Cerro de la Muerte pass into the Orosi Valley we ride past coffee plantations and volcanoes to arrive on the fertile Caribbean plains where banana plantations take over the landscape. We take a break from the saddle to explore the wildlife-rich rivers and waterways of Tortuguero, before travelling to La Fortuna, a lovely spot located at the foot of Arenal Volcano.

Cycling profile

Daily distance in km/miles:

Day 2

41.0km/25.5miles

Day 3

43.0km/26.7miles

Day 4

57.0km/35.4miles

Day 5

75.0km/46.6miles

Day 7

24.0km/14.9miles

Day 8

54.0km/33.6miles

Day 9

51.0km/31.7miles

Day 10

47.0km/29.2miles

Day 12

49.0km/30.4miles

Day 13

46.0km/28.6miles

Number of days cycling: 10

Pace: Moderate: 13-16km/8-10miles an hour

Terrain: Low altitude; 80% tarmac, 20% unpaved track

Itinerary

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1Day 1Start San Jose.

Those on the group flight land at San Jose and will be transferred to our start hotel in La Garita, around 15 minutes away. Those on land only arrangements should make their own way to the start hotel this evening.See more images and videos

2Day 2Ride to Rio Tarcoles.

We have a briefing this morning and spend some time adjusting our bikes before riding out through small rural communities, followed by dense rainforest and dry, tropical forest with very little traffic on the paved roads. We descend to Rio Tarcoles and stop at a good restaurant near the river for lunch. Following a short half hour transfer we arrive at our lodge.
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3Day 3Boat tour; ride to Parrita.

Following an early breakfast we transfer 10 minutes to Rio Tarcoles for a private, guided boat tour of the estuary where we hope to see crocodiles, water birds, shore birds and Scarlet macaws. A 20 minute transfer brings us to the outskirts of Jaco where we return to our bikes and cycle to the small town of Parrita. From here we have a 30 minute transfer to Manuel Antonio, aiming to arrive in time for sunset on the beach. This evening we have dinner at a restaurant with sea-views where the seafood is a speciality!
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4Day 4Wildlife hike in Manuel Antonio N.P; to Rio Savegre.

We start the morning with a 2 hour guided hike in Manuel Antonio National Park, an outstanding region for wildlife. The forest here meets the sea and iguanas and White-headed Capuchin monkeys can often be seen on the beach. A 30 minute transfer takes us to Rio Savegre where we begin to cycle on the Coastal Highway. This is a spectacular stretch of road, with dense forest and steep hills on the left and fantastic Pacific views on the right. In the late afternoon we visit the beautiful, isolated Pinuela Beach.
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5Day 5To Osa Peninsula; ride to Puerto Jimenez.

Our biking route today takes us through Palmar Sur and onto Finca 6 where we will stop to observe some of Costa Rica's famous spherical rocks, made by ancient indigenous cultures. The rocks were originally found in an area being cleared to make way for banana plantations but the land has since been declared a protected area. Back on our bikes we cycle to the junction of the Pan-Am Highway, passing through palm plantations and stopping to observe the harvesting process on the way. A one hour 15 minute road transfer by bus takes us to the Osa Peninsula where we recommence our journey by bike, riding along planted fields bordered by rainforest to Puerto Jiminez. From our accommodation this evening there is an optional sunset kayak trip on the Golfo Dulce, where sea-turtles, dolphins and phosphorescent plankton are frequently seen!

Today has been left free to take a break from the saddle and enjoy the beautiful region surrounding Puerto Jimenez. The coastline and beaches here are lovely and there are plenty of optional excursions to choose from; canopy/zip wire tours, kayaking, surfing, fishing, cacao plantation tour or hiking within Corcovado National Park. If you want to cycle this day there is a great off-road biking route out to Carate and back which will certainly fill up your day!See more images and videos

7Day 7Ferry to Golfito; ride/transfer to Las Cruces.

We board a private boat this morning for a 30 minute journey across the Golfo Dulce to Golfito, where sometimes dolphins can be seen frolicking in the surrounding waters. Our cycle route heads to Rio Claro, via a tropical garden where we will learn about the medicinal properties of indigenous plants and the history of the United Fruit Company in this region. Following a one hour bus transfer across the steep mountains surrounding San Vito we arrive at Las Cruces Biological Station, our lodgings for the evening.
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Las Cruces Biological Station is surrounded by the famous Wilson Botanical Gardens where we enjoy a guided hike this morning. Back in the saddle we take a different route downhill to the Pan-Am Highway at Paso Real, passing through an indigenous area where villagers can often be seen in traditional dress. We board our bus for the three and a half hour journey across the 11,000ft Cerro de la Muerte pass, arriving at Savegre by mid-afternoon. Savegre Valley is spectacular and said to be one of the best places in Costa Rica for spotting the shy quetzal. Our mountain lodge this evening has a wonderful ambience, set in a protected area of forest, with trout ponds and private trails to explore.

We transfer for two hours by bus to Paraiso and then start riding past coffee plantations and rugged mountains in the Orosi Valley. During harvest season we will visit a coffee plantation to see how coffee is grown, harvested and processed. The views today are incredible, as we ride past Lake Cachi, visit the Cachi Dam and see Turrialba and Irazu volcanoes.
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10Day 10Ride to Siquirres; to Tortuguero N.P.

This morning we set off on bikes to the final ridge that separates Costa Rica from the coast and from here itï¿½s a mostly downhill ride to the Caribbean plains. We transfer to isolated Pavon by bus and then board a river launch to take us on the final leg of our journey along wildlife rich canals and waterways to Tortuguero. Our lodge has direct access to the beach where nesting turtles come ashore to lay eggs (in season, July to October).
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11Day 11Free day.

Spend today at your leisure exploring the natural wonders of Tortuguero. Optional activities include a guided boat trip along the canals in search of wildlife or a hike to the top of Cerro Tortuguero, the highest place for many miles along the coast. This area is rich in wildlife and it is common to see monkeys, caiman, iguanas, turtles, butterflies and many of the 309 bird species recorded here.See more images and videos

12Day 12To La Fortuna near Arenal Volcano.

We re-trace our route by boat to the dock at Pavon where we mount our bikes and travel along the quiet back roads that run through the huge banana plantations of the Caribbean plains. We'll stop at one of the plantations to learn about the process of banana production right through from picking the bananas to them arriving on the breakfast table! At Guapiles we travel by bus for 2 hours to La Fortuna, a lovely little spot at the foot of Arenal Volcano. Following a massive explosion in 1968, Arenal was Costa Rica's most active volcano until recently when it entered a resting phase. We spend the night in a hotel in the centre of La Fortuna which has observation decks with great views of the volcano, as well as pools and pretty gardens. This evening there is an optional excursion to Eco-Termales hot springs, by far the best in the area.

Our final cycling stage covers the lush region surrounding La Fortuna, as we cycle past tropical farmlands where exotic fruits and vegetables grow in the surrounding fields. This gives way to dense rainforest as we head towards Bajo Rodriguez, our lunch stop. The last leg of our journey is completed by bus as we transfer back to La Garita, travelling for around two hours with tropical views on the way.
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14Day 14End San Jose.

Our trip ends in San Jose (La Garita) after breakfast this morning and those on group flights will be transferred to the international airport for the return journey.See more images and videos

Your images

Adult Group

This is a small group adult holiday. The group is usually between 4 and 16 in size, with an average of 12 like-minded clients booking individually, in a couple or as friends together.

Activity level

You are moderately fit and possess a spirit of adventure. Some previous experience is required for most activity based trips.

What's included

What's included

All breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners

All accommodation

London flights (if booking incl. flights)

What's not included

Local bike hire (GBP160 paid on booking)

Travel insurance

Single accommodation - GBP335

Accommodation details

Hotels & Lodges

You will spend 13 nights in comfortable hotels with en suite rooms. Hotels are full of character and most have swimming pools. There are 3 nights in remote mountain lodges with lush gardens and superb views; one with a famous tropical botanical garden. All accommodations are well maintained, very clean and most are long-time favourites in Costa Rica.

Essential info

Vaccinations and Visa
Holders of British, US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and most EU passports can enter Costa Rica for a stay of 90 days without a visa. Proof of onward travel may be required when entering Costa Rica - we suggest you take a print out of your flight details in case officials ask to see them.
All passengers flying via the USA will have to clear immigration during transit. Prior to travel you must apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (USD14) under the Visa Waiver Programme. Please see www.exodus.co.uk/USVisa for more information. If you are not a UK citizen please check with your local U.S. Embassy.
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Hepatitis A. The risk of malaria is slight but you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Holiday style

This trip is classified road and graded as Moderate. Please see the introductory pages of the cycling holidays brochure or our website for more important information on classification and grading.
Average daily distance: 48km (30 miles)
No. of days cycling: 10
Vehicle support: 100%
Terrain and route: 80% tarmac, 20% groomed dirt road with some moderate climbs. Routes mainly follow quiet backroads.
This tour covers some remote parts of the region. Though many of the roads are good you should expect some potholes and poor road conditions in places. Routes mainly follow quiet backroads although nearer the towns there will be more traffic. Mountain bikes are ideal for this trip and flat bars are preferable, but a good strong tourer will suffice (though make sure you have suitably low gearing).

Eating & drinking

In the itinerary we state which meals are included on which day. Hotel breakfasts are normally buffet style. Vegetarians are well catered for but please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests.

Trip notes

Download the detailed trip notes for everything you could possibly want to know about this trip, including
detailed itinerary and full kit list

Weather & seasonality

Costa Rica is located 10degC north of the equator and has a tropical climate. The average temperature range is 10degC - 13degC in the highlands and from 22degC - 26degC in the lowlands. There is a rainy season from May to November when there are daily downpours, though these are usually quite short and there is still plenty of bright sunshine, so midsummer is not necessarily a bad time. December to April is the driest period of the year and can be incredibly hot, be prepared for some rain even at this time of year.

Gallery

Reviews & community

Great trip covering nearly 300 miles, through varied scenery. Guided walks, boat trips, wildlife, plantation tours all added a little extra. The 'rollings' (rolling hills), and 'good hills' certainly made good use of the low gears, but there were some great downhill sections too.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

There were lots of great moments -the 7.5 mile downhill (no pedalling required!), the wildlife, the optional zip wire trip, the unending pineapple and watermelon supply..... the list could go on

What did you think of your group leader?

Roberto (Chino) was excellent. Good humour. Very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Appropriate encouragement - but happy to let people opt out if hills too big or legs too sore. Well supported by Eugenio (Neno) the bus driver and Izack the cycle guide / mechanic. If you mentioned a bike issue it was sorted there and then or overnight. Really efficient in paying for some meals and then giving us a bill - saved a lot of time and hassle.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

I'd try to pay in (and use) colones generally if you can - so get at the airport or bring with you. Although US$ widely accepted we found we often lost on the conversion both ways (ie on paying and then on calculating change). Be warned the 23% tax and service added to bills
The mosquitos bite! You'll need plenty of insect repellent for both day and evening.
Get on and book!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

The coffee tour was too long and repetitive - needed to be shortened as people lost interest and even managed to fall asleep during it!
You can get washing done in the two places you stay more than one night. Humidity means washing doesn't always dry overnight (well not in October anyway!)
If you wake easily - take an eye mask. No hotel room had curtains or blinds that kept out the light.
If you don't like pineapple, watermelon or eggs your food choices may be limited!

What a holiday and what a country! This trip more than lived up to our expectations and gave us a wonderful introduction to Latin America. We had a great crowd to travel with, the countryside was beautiful and varied from coast to mountain to rain forest, and the local people could not have been more friendly. All of this, coupled with great cycling, and plentiful food, made it a holiday that will remain long in the memory.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

There really are too many to list, but if I had to choose just one it would be our night's stay in the eco-lodge high up in the mountains surrounded by beautiful gardens full of exotic birds, insects and plants.

What did you think of your group leader?

Roberto "Chino" was an absolute gem. His enthusiasm and knowledge made him not only great company but also a fantastic ambassador for his country. Nothing was ever too much trouble, he had the patience of a saint no matter what situations arose and a smile and a laugh were never far away. Our trip would not have been the same without him.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

A fair level of cycling fitness is required for those days when there are some serious climbs to be negotiated - don't forget that this is a mountainous country and some of the climbs go on for a very long time. However, these are more than worth it when they are in beautiful surroundings and are invariably followed by gloriously winding stretches of fast downhill on smooth tarmac. There are plenty of snacks and fresh fruit supplied along the way, together with energy drink (Gatorade) and water, so you don't really need to bring any from home. If you use clipless pedals at home bring them with you as they really are useful for the long climbs.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

The food is good and plentiful but fairly simple. Gallo pinto (rice and beans) is to be found at virtually all meals but we quickly got used to it and ended up loving it - we now cook it at home! Throw yourself, heart and soul into the trip and you are sure to enjoy it as much as we did. Pura Vida!

We felt incredibly privileged to enjoy two weeks of tropical sunshine in the middle of such a grim wet winter in the UK The wildlife of Costa Rica especially the birds, lived up to our expectations. It felt safe and relaxed to be in a country where we could drink the water from the tap and where we were welcomed so generously.If it had been possible, we should have liked to see a little more of the life of the local population and to learn a little more detail of the history of the country

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Seeing the first [of many] morpho butterflies fluttering its electric blue through the dark green of the forest was unforgettable.

Hearing the distant sound of pan pipes played deep in the valley below us as we cycled the mountain ridge

What did you think of your group leader?

Britten was an exceptional leader! His knowledge of Costa Rica and his enthusiasm for the country infectious.

He has great "people skills " dealing competantly with a wide range of clients with courtesy at all times. He was efficient and well organised in all aspects of his work and clearly worked well as the leader of his team- the driver and mechanic respected him and enjoyed his company.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Try to ensure you have the same team as we had to lead , drive and look after you!

Having embarked on his first round the world trip at the age of 19 Marcus quickly found that the most important thing to him was to keep travelling for as long as he possibly could! This eventually led him to employment in the travel industry, where he has specialised in Africa, Latin America and sold most worldwide destinations for the last 6 years or so. Having spent 18 months teaching and travelling in South America, he would no doubt put that continent at the top of his list of favourite destinations, although Africa comes a very close second.

Questions about your trip

Pick your question

Can you always guarantee a bike available to hire locally?

‘In-country’ bike hire should be arranged at the time of booking, and the cost will be added to your invoice. Please note that there are a limited number of bikes available locally. We always have to match a person's height to the bike frame size and, as there are a limited amount of each size, we cannot always guarantee availability of the correct frame. Therefore it is recommended you add the local bike hire as early as possible.

Andy Ross - Product Manager

Some days look quite long. Do we need to be experienced cyclists?

No. The leader carefully breaks up the distances covered with refreshment stops and lunch. The terrain will vary but clients are always free to hop on the support vehicle that shadows the whole group, if they feel like a break. Saying that, you do cover more ground than you think, especially with a tailwind behind you!

Will Shoubridge - Agency Sales

Costa Rica Country Guide

Please visit the Exodus Travel Guide to Costa Rica where you can find out what plugs they use, as well as more detailed Country information in the menu on the left of the page.

Any local dish I should try while in Costa Rica?

A burrito from a local restaurant! - if its busy with Costa Ricans then it will be good and well priced.

Sharmil Goswami - Sales

I'm travelling via the US, do I need a visa?

Most clients are eligible to travel via the US under the US Visa Waiver Programme, however to do this you must register for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority). This must be done prior to departure - more details can be found at www.exodus.co.uk/usvisa.

Rebecca Caldicott - Customer Operations

Exodus staff - expertise on hand to help

All the staff at Exodus share a passion for adventure travel, and are always happy to answer any questions you may have. You can find an expert for the area you are interested in here and can contact them to get further information. If you don't see your specific country listed, please email customerops@exodus.co.uk and they will get the answers you need!

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We realise that every holiday destination is also someone else's home and that we should leave places as we found them. Find out more about how we incorporate responsible travel into our adventure and activity holidays, and how you can help by donating to one of our responsible travel projects.